Volcano Crisis Proves the Need for a Travel Agent

If anyone needed any more evidence of why it is crucial to utilize the services of a "real live" travel agent, they need only look at the recent volcanic ash crisis that grounded air service to and from Europe. In this article from Travel Agent Magazine, the real heroes of the crisis are revealed:

Travel agents are emerging as heroes to many travelers during the volcanic ash crisis that is only now coming to a costly end. As the blame game begins, travel agents appear to have proven their value as the public reached out for help.

While the evidence is often anecdotal at this point, its clear that many travel agents went the extra mile for their clients, responding with professional skill to a crisis that engulfed millions of travelers. Case studies of how agents helped clients may prove invaluable.

Lost revenues now total more than $1.7 billion for airlines alone, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says, calling the six-day crisis devastating. At its worst, the crisis impacted 29 percent of global aviation and affected 1.2 million passengers a day. The scale of the crisis eclipsed 9/11 when U.S. airspace was closed for three days.

American Express Business Travel, for example, reports that its agents have been on the frontlines of the crisis from the first day. It rallied its global service delivery and communications teams to ramp up hours and provide 24/7 availability.

One telling statistic is that service capacity was up 600 percent more than average to provide much needed support to business travelers, while call volumes from stranded travelers reached 5,000 percent over their usual levels. Travel counselors have done everything from re-routing flights to just providing peace of mind, American Express says.

Liberty Travel is another retail group that went the extra mile. Billy McDonough, president of Liberty Travel, notes the value of the resources available to clients of professional agents compared to impersonal online bookings – especially in a crisis.

Forced to alter their plans on short notice, many travelers turned to Liberty Travel for assistance, McDonough said, "this is where the value of our business model really shines.” Shortly following the volcanic eruption, Liberty Travel's phones began ringing with calls from travelers whose near future travel plans were disrupted, as well as those currently overseas and unable to return home.

"We even received calls from travelers who hadn't booked with us originally, but got a hold of an agent's contact information from other travelers who were in the same place and the same situation,” McDonough said. "Obviously, we do everything we can to help anyone who calls us. Flying was completely out of the question from some airports, but were able to assist many travelers in finding affordable accommodations. They may not be able to get home, but at least they can be comfortable and maybe even enjoy a few days in the city they happen to be in.”

He notes that some travelers were willing to explore other means of getting home, whether it was a cruise ship, or traveling over land to an airport where they had a better chance of getting a flight. "These are options not everyone is willing to try, but options Liberty Travel's agents are well-prepared to handle," he said.

"We will do everything in our power to rebook flights or holidays to a future date. If a reasonable alternative cannot be found, we will work with our suppliers and will do everything possible to get clients a full refund," McDonough said.

Unknown at this point is the impact, if any, on bookings to Europe this summer or the effects on future pricing. In addition to the airlines and airports, the impact of the crisis was felt by tour operators, hoteliers, insurers, cruise lines and car rental firms.

Updates on this year's Mexico Trip

Our annual trip to Mexico is approaching quickly. We hope you will join us between July 2 and 10th at the fabulous Barcelo Maya Beach Resort on the Mayan Riviera coast. On this posting we thought we'd talk a bit about the differences between the five Barcelo properties located in the Barcelo complex. We'll be staying at the Barcelo Maya Beach this year. The Beach shares a long stretch of coastline with four other Barcelo resorts: The Barcelo Maya Caribe, Maya Colonial, Maya Tropical and Maya Palace. Last year the Beach and Caribe were closed for renovations. What emerged after the renovation was a resort with new room amenities and a fresh look. The bedrooms were equipped with new ultra-comfortable matresses, flat screen televisions and new rain shower heads in the bathrooms. From what we are reading on the blogs the new amenities have been a big hit with recent guests.
As a result of the last year's closure of the Beach and Caribe, our group stayed at the Tropical. The Tropical lobby has a very modern feel and the resort was very well laid out. As a guest of the Tropical we also had full use of the facilities at the Colonial. Each resort had its own air-conditioned buffet, plus two specialty restaurants and lobby area with a bar and shops. They shared a large pool area which fronted a white sand beach.
What our group discovered last year, however, was that the best part of the beach was located in front of the Beach and Caribe. In fact, several of us ventured over to that part of the beach several times during the week. The beach at this part of the resort is a beautiful mile long crescent with sand entries into the water. Very few rocks to worry about. The Beach and Caribe also have a huge pool with two outdoor grills on each end for a late breakfast or lunch. Swim up bars also sit along each end of the pool.
The dining choices are slightly different than the Tropical and Colonial. There are only three specialty restaurants between the two resorts. One Spanish, a Mexican and a Steakhouse. The two buffet areas are open-air, unlike the air-conditioned venues at the Tropical and Colonial. While the open-air buffets can be warm in the summer, most agree that they give the resort a much more tropical atmosphere. The air-conditioned buffets can have a "mall-like" atmosphere to them.
Each lobby also has its share of shops and lobby bars. And there is a also a large theater for evening shows.
The one thing we constantly hear about the Beach and Caribe is how lush it is. There is vegetation everywhere and the Barcelo staff keeps it looking pritstine.
The Barcelo Maya Palace is the five star resort. It sits at the south end of the Barcelo complex and features upgraded amenities such as larger junior suites and upgraded restaurant choices. As guests of the Maya Beach our group will have access to all the restaurants at our resort plus those at the Caribe. And, we will have access to the beach grills, pool, theater and lobby bars at the Tropical and Colonial. Kids may also use the Barcy Kids Club at either resort, plus the water park at the Colonial.
Hopefully, all this didn't confuse you. One thing that you can see is evident from this blog. Guests who join us this July will have a ton of choices. Choices in restaurants, pools, beaches, kids programs, evening entertainment and water sports. It promises to be a once in a lifetime trip and we look forward to being your hosts once again.

Which cruise ship cabin has the least motion

Many of our clients who are concerned about getting seasick aboard cruise ships ask us which cruise staterooms experience the least motion. As a rule of thumb, cruise cabins located at the lowest, most mid-ship will experience the least motion. And, on many ships the cabins on the lowest deck are no smaller than those on higher decks. Plus, they are usually priced lower. So, if you're concerned about motion, the rule is "go low".